Envelop-moistener.



PATENTED MAR. 3

A. M; OSMU NQ ENVBLOP M'OISTENER. APPLIUATIUfi FILED MAY 20, 1902.

no MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ALONZO MONTGOMERY OSMUN, OF SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOP-MOISTENEQ.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,911, dated March 3, 1903. Application filed May 20, 1902. Serial No. 108,234. (No model.)

To all whom it 111.1151 concern.-

Be it known that I, ALONZO MONTGOMERY OSMUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sunbury, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Envelop-Moistener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices employed for the purpose of moistening envelops, post- IO age-stamps, &c., and has for its object tie production of 'a simple,-inexp'ensive, and convenient device which may be carried about the person and which will hold a sufficient quantity of liquid for numerous operations.

Another-object of the invention is to produce a device in whichsmall quantities of fragments of sponge may be employed as the medium for conveying the liquid to the envelop or stamp, so that otherwise waste ma- 2 5 terial may be employed in the implement.

Another novel feature of the invention is the attachment of an eraser to the closed end of the casing.

Other novel features of the invention will appear in the description hereto annexed and in the claims following.

In the drawings illustrative of theinvention, Figure l is a side elevation of the implement with the cap removed. Fig. 2 is a view of the cap detached. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sponge-supporting ferrule detached. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the sponge-supporting ferrule.

The implement will preferably be formed in about the shape and size of a pencil or fountain-pen, so that it may be carried in a vest-pocket.

The device consists in a tubular casing 10, open at one end and having a cap 11 engaging the open end and preferably with a rib 10 to limit the longitudinalmovement of the cap and to support it when in place upon the casing and preferably with a vent 11 in the outer end of the cap. Attached to the closed end of the casing 10 is an eraser of the usual rubber or similar material 10". Within the casing 10 is supported an internal tubular casing or reservoir 12 for the liquid, the res crvoir extending beyond the end of the casing 10, as shown in Fig. 3 at 1 2. Engaging the end of the tubular reservoir 12.is asleeve 13, having its lower end open and its upper end cut away on one or both sides, preferably in an angular position, as shown at 14 14*, leaving a small portion 14. in the form of a transverse bar upon the outer end of the sleeve. This sleeve 13 is designed to contain a mass of suitable absorbent material, such as sponge or the like, and which will project slightly beyond the inclined apertures 14 14, as shown. The bar 14 across the outer end of the sleeve serves to retain the sponge in position and prevent it from escaping from the sleeve. When thus constructed and the tubular reservoir filled with water, the sponge 15 will become saturated with the water, so that when applied to the gummed surface of an envelop or postage-stamp it will impart thereto the requisite moisture. By this simple means the necessity for employing the tongue in moistening envelops and stamps is obviated, and thereby avoiding any danger of the absorption of diseasegerms or other deleterious matter.

One of the special and important advantages gained by this construction is that the elongated inclined aperture or apertures 14 produce a correspondingly-elongated surface of the absorbent material without increasing the lateral bulk of the device or increasing its length, so that the whole width of the gummed surface of the envelop or stamp, no matter how wide, may be moistened at one sweep of the device. This cannot be accomplished with an implement wherein the absorbent material is contained in the end of a cylinder or tube without unduly enlarging the tube and rendering it too clumsy to be carried in the vest-pocket. With this implement, however, an extended-surface may be moistened with an implement occupying no more space than an ordinary fountain-pen. This is therefore a very important feature of the invention and adds very materially toits efficiency and convenience. Another special advantage of this construction is found in the fact that by constructing the sleeve or ferthe absorbent material employed may be in the form of small particles or fragments of sponge or similar material, or what is known as sponge clippings, and which has hith-' erto been waste material. This grade of material decreases the expense of manufacture without in any manner decreasing or otherwise affecting the eificiency of the implement deleteriously. The fragments or clippings of sponge above referred to are as fully effective when held compressed in the ferrule or sleeve 13 as the larger and more expensive pieces of sponge which are necessarily employed in devices of this character heretofore manufactured. Another advantage of this form of ferrule or sleeve is that it supports the absorbent material entirely within the area of the cap 11, so that when placing the cap in position it is not necessary to first crowd the absorbent material into the cap before the latter can be placed in position. This is also a very important consideration and greatly lessens the labor of operating the'device and increases its convenience. It also materially adds to the durability of the device, as no part of the absorbent material is exposed to the friction of the cap when'the latter is placed in position or removed.

The casings and cap may be of any suitable material or of any size or ornamented in fanciful manner, and the device may be modified in minor particulars without affecting the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a moistening device, the combination of a tubular reservoir open at one end, a sleeve having one end open and engaging the open end of said reservoir, the outer end of said sleeve being provided with longitudinal side apertures and having means for the retention of absorbent material and for exposing a portion thereof through said apertures.

2. In a device of the character described, a tubular reservoir open at one end, a tubular sleeve engagingsaid open end and having one or more apertures adjacent to its outer end formed by removing a portion of the side or sides of the sleeve at an elongated angle, whereby inclined V-shaped aperture or apertures are formed and a portion of the end of the sleeve retained, whereby absorbent material may be retained and portions exposed without projecting beyond the general surface of the implement, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, an outer casing or shell, an inner casing or shell adapted to retain a supply of liquid and supported within said outer shell and with its outer end open, a sleeve having one end open and engaging the open end of said reservoir, and with elongated angular apertures in its sides and a transverse bar at the outer end, and affording means for the retention of absorbent material and exposing a portion through said angular apertures, substantially as described.

4. A moistening device comprising a reservoir open at one end, a sleeve having one end open and engaging the open end of the reservoir, said sleeve having side apertures and a transverse bar at its outer end for retaining an absorbent material and exposing it through the apertures.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO MONTGOMERY OSMUN.

Witnesses:-

J. T. KOEN, L. E. HAWKINS. 

